Voting-machine.



' J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SHPTJ'I, 190B.

vPatented June 13, 1911-.

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VOTING MACHINE.'

APPLICATION RILBD SEPT. 17, 190s.

Patented June 13,1911.

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT orrrcn.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE .ASSIGNMENTS TOEMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to voting-machines and more particularly tomechanism for voting on amendments or questions.

The invention seeks to provide simple and effective mechanism for votingeither yes or no on amendments or questions and to provide mea-nswhereby the different mechanisms for this purpose may be variably cutout of operation when the machine is used by different classes of votersand consists in the features of improvement, combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The invention is particularly adapted to and is shown as applied to thetype of Voting machine Set forth in the prior applications filed by meDecember 27, 1902, Serial No. 288,388 and April 1, 1907, Serial No.365,639, although certain features of the invention could be employedwith other types of machine.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a section through the upper )art of themachine from front to rear antl showing the column of keys used forvoting on amendments or questions. Fig. 2 is a partial view of the topof the machine. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken from side to side of themachine. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the lockout for the amendmentvoting mechanisms with the casing of the machine shown in section. Fig.5 is a longitudinal section of the lock-out device on the line 5 5 ofFig. 8. Fig. 6 is a view of the operating knob for the lock-out device.Fig. 7 is a crosssection on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 8 is across-section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

As set forth in the prior applications referred to, the machine isprovided with a box-like frame 1 with vertically movable keys or ballo-tindicators 2 projecting through the flat, horizontal top of the machine.The voting keys and the counters controlled thereby, are arranged inremovable units or sections with two keys and two Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1908.

Patented June 13, 1911. Serial No. 453,478.

counters in each section. Each section comprises a pair of connectedside-plates 8 and are mounted at the upper part of the machine frame onsupports 4 which extend from front to rear thereof. The ballot indicators or keys 2 are guided at their upper ends by a block 5 fixed tothe side-plates of t-he counter-section. 'Each key is provided with adepending tailpiece 6 which extends at its lower end between a pair ofguide rolls 7 that are carried by the plates 8 of the unit or Section. Apair of counter actuators 8 are arranged in each section on oppositesides of the keys therein and are arranged to be shifted in axialdirection by cam slots 9 in the tail portions of the keys which engagepins 10 that are connected to parts engag ing t-he actuators. Theactuators of each row of sections are arranged in line and a series ofactuator shafts 11 extend there through. These shafts are oscillated bythe operating mechanism to advance the countters corresponding to thevoted keys. This counter mechanism is fully set forth in the priorapplications referred to and need not be more fully set forth here.

Each key is provided with a slot engaging one end of a rocker-arm 18which is loosely mounted upon a hub 16 journaled between the side-plates3 of the counter section. A laterally projecting lug 15 on the hub 14extends between a pair of shoulders 16 and 17 on the rocker-arm 13. Thehubs 14 of the several sections are arranged in line and a series ofrocking and restoring shafts 18 extend therethrough. As set forth in theprior applications referred to, these shafts are controlled by theoperating mechanism and are normally held in the position shown in Fig.8 with the lug 15 on the hub 14 against the shoulder 16 on therocker-arm 13 and holding the latter, and the key connected thereto, innormal, unvoted position. `When the voter enters the machine, the shafts18 are unlocked so that the voting keys may be depressed to votingposition. At the end of the voting operation, the shafts are rocked torestore the keys and counter actuators. The lug 15 on the hub 14 is ofless width than the space between the shoulders 16 and 17 on therocker-arm, so that a lost-motion connection is provided between thekeys and the restoring shafts and, although each column of keys isrestored by a single shaft, they may be shifted to voted positionindependently of one another. This restoring mechanism is fully setforth in the prior applications referred to.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided whereby thetwo keys of any section may be employed for voting yes or no uponamendments or questions. This means comprises a thin, fiat plate 19having upwardly projecting` end portions that are notched to fit overthe supporting bars 4. Adjacent its lower edge, and on opposite sides,the plate 19 is provided with a projecting lug 2O which preferablyconsists of a short piece o-f metal inserted through an opening in theplate 19 adjacent its lower edge with the ends of the piece of metalbent downwardly over the opposite faces of the plate, as shown inFig. 1. Then one of the amendment devices 19 is placed in posit-ion uponthe supports L1 and between the tail portions (3 of the keys carried bya section, the central part of the plate extends beneath the guide pinsor rollers 7, as shown in Fig. 3, and the lug 2O is arranged between.and just below the lower ends of the tail pieces (3. The lug 20 issomewhat wider than the distance between the two keys, so that both ofthe keys cannot be depressed to voted position. 1f one of the two keys,however, is depressed, the rounded corner at the lower end of thetail-piece G will engage the upper rounded surface of the lug 2O andpress it and the lower edge of the plate 19 aside so that the key may hedepressed fully to voted position. The shift of this key, however, willmove the lug over into engagement with the other key of the section sothat it is securely locked against movement. The key voted, however, maybe retracted to normal unvoted position and the other key may then bevoted. lu this way, the two keys and the counters controlled thereby maybe utilized for voting yes or no upon an amendment or question submittedto the voter. By removing the plate 19, the counter section thusutilized as an admendment voting device may be used for voting forcandidates by connecting the keys to the interlocking mechanism of themachine.

The regular candidate keys are connected to the interlocking mechanismby providing the tail portions of the rocker-arms 13 with arrows orspreaders which engage the interlocking blocks. 'Vhere a section is usedas an amendment voting device, counterbalanci ing weights 21 areconnected to the tail portions of the rocker-arms 13 so thatthe keys 2will remain in voted or unvoted position without requiring t-he use offriction springs or the like. The rounded corners at the lower ends ofthe tail-pieces G of the keys and the upper rounded end of the lug 2Oact as cam faces to effect the shift of the locking lug and plate as oneor the other of the keys is voted.

It frequently happens that women, nontax payers and voters of otherclasses are restricted by law on voting on amendments or are permittedto vote on some amendments and not on others. In accordance with thepresent invention, means are provided whereby the amendment votingdevices may be all or only partially locked against operation when therestricted or class voter is admitted to the machine. This lock-outdevice is associated with one of the columns of keys, usually the firstcolumn at the left of the machine face, which are employed for voting onamendments and each of the sections of which are provided with one ofthe amendment devices 19 between the two keys thereof. The arrangementof this column of keys is indicated in Fig. 2. The lock-out` devicecomprises a hollow tube or cylinder 2Q which is provided at its endswith heads 23 and 24. The head Q3 is provided with a projecting stud 25which extends through and rotatably engages an opening in the back plate26 of the machine. A small plate 27 (see Fig. 4)'is secured to the innerface of the front plate 28 of the machine and is provided with a bearingportion 29 that extends through an openingl in the front plate. A stud30 is adapted to extend through this opening and be secured to the head24 at the front end of the lock-out cylinder or tube 22. The outer endof the stud 30 is provided with a knurled thumb-piece 31 by which thelock-out cylinder 22 may be rotated. The stud 30 is also provided withan indicator plate 32 arranged against the outer face of the front plate28 and coperating with a pointer secured to the front plate.

The lock-out cylinder or tube extends, as shown, directly beneath thelower ends of the tail pieces of the column of keys devoted toamendments or questions, and it is provided with a long slot extendingfrom end to end thereof which, in the normal position of the lock-outdevice, is arranged immediately below the lower ends of the tailpieces Gso that it does not in any way iuter fere with the operation of theamendment. keys. By rotating the cylinder to different positions, and byproviding it at different points with variably arranged slots, it isobvious that different combinations of the amendment voting devices maybe locked out or that they may be all locked out. ln the form shown, thelock-out cylinder or tube Q2 is adapted to occupy eight differentpositions and it is provided with six short slots a, b, c, (Z, e and f,located at different points around the circumference of the lockoutcylinder or tube and extending through different portions of the lengththereof. 1n

the normal position, nominated Regular on the indicator, as shown inFig. 6, the long slot 34 will be`beneath the amendment keys, so that allmay be voted. By shifting the lock-out device one-eighth of a turn tothe right, all of the amendment voting mechanisms will be locked outexcept that employing keys 1 and 2, since then, a blank portion of thecylinder will be brought beneath all of the keys except keys 1 and 2which will then be over the short slot a. In a similar manner, asindicated on the dial 32, by shifting the lock-out device throughone-quarter of a. turn all of the amendment devices except thoseemploying keys 1, 2, 3 and 4, will be locked out, but the first fourkeys may be operated since then they will be over the slot c. Byrotating the lock-out device through three-eighths of a turn, all of theamendment keys except the iirst six, which are then above the short slotc, will be locked out. Similarly the short slot l permits the operationof the amendment device employing 7 and 8 while the other keys will belocked out when the cylinder 22 is 'rotated through a half turn fromnormalposition, and slots e and f cooperate in a similar manner, asindicated on the dial 32, with keys 7 to 10 inclusive and keys 7 to 12inclusive. Then the lock-out device is rotated through Iive-eighths andthree-quarters of a revolution respectively from normal position, byrotating the lockout device through seven-eighths of a revolution to theright from normal position, or one-eighth of a revolution to the leftfrom normal, since the lock-out device may be rotated in eitherdirection, all of the keys in the column devoted to amendments will belocked out. It is obvious that the lock may be variously arranged tolock out varying combinations of amendment voting devices. The long slot34 is preferably bridged at intervals by portions 35 which strengthenthe lock-out tube or cylinder but are so arranged as not to interferewith the operation of the voting keys.

Means are provided for holding the lockout device against movement whilethe voter is in the booth. For this purpose, the head 23 is providedwith a projecting flange 36 having series of notches 37. A locking rodor bolt 38 cooperates with the notched disk. This rod is mounted uponthe inner face of the back plate 26 and at its inner end is providedwith a slot through which extends a pin 40 that is xed to the back plate26. At its outer end the locking rod 38 is pivoted to the upper end ofan arm 41 which is connected by a pivot pin 42 to the back plate 26.This arm is provided on one side with an offset having a projecting pin43 which is arranged to engage a notch 44 in -the upper edge of thejudges intervening bar 45. This intervening bar, as set forth in theprior application No. 365,639 above referred to, controls the lock-outbar for the locking and restoring shafts 18, so that, after a voter isadmitted to the machine, the bar 45 must be pushed inwardly from theposition shown in F ig. 3, before the shafts 18 can be unlocked topermit the operation of the voters keys. This inward shift of the bar 45rocks the arm 42 through the engagement of the cam edges of the notch 44with the pin 43 so that the locking bolt 38 is pressed into engagementwith one of the notches 37 of the disk 36. It is then impossible for thevoter to shift the amendment lock-out from the position to which it wasset when he was admitted to the machine. At the end of the votingoperation the judges intervening bar 45 is restored by the operatingmechanism to the position shown in the drawings. The end of the lockingbolt 38 is pointed or provided with beveled cam faces, and the notches37 are similarly shaped so that, when the judges intervening bar 45 isrestored, the lock-out device may be rotated, since the cam faces of thenotch 37 will force the bolt 38 back to its disengaged position.Moreover, the cam faces of the bolt and notches 37 will serve toaccurately position the lock-ont device with the proper slot directlybeneath the keys when the judges intervening bar 45 is pushed in tounlock the voting keys.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details setforthwithout departure from the essentials of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In voting machines, the combination withamendment voting device comprising two keys, of an interlocking devicebetween said keys, rock-arms connected at one end to said keys andcounterbalances connected to the opposite ends of said arms.

2. In a voting machine, an amendment voting device comprising two keys,an interlocking device between said keys permitting the operation of oneof them, rockarms connected at one end to said keys, counterbalancesconnected to the opposite ends of said rock-arms and a restoring deviceconnected to said rock-arms.

3. In voting machines, the combination with a series of amendment votingdevices, of controlling keys therefor and a lock-out for said keyscomprising a rotatable, slotted cylinder.

4. In voting machines, the combination with a series of amendment votingmechanisms, each comprising a pair of keys with an interlockingy devicebetween the keys for preventing the movement of one of them, of alock-out for said keys comprising a rotatable, slotted cylinder andmeans for holding said cylinder against rot-ation while the I machine isunlocked for voting.

5. In voting machines, the combination With a series of amendment votingmechanism, of controlling keys therefor, a variable lock-out for saidkeys comprising a rotatable cylinder having a series of slots atdifferent points around the circumference and throughout the lengththereof.

6. In voting machines, the combination with a series of amendment votingdevices comprising a column of keys With an interlockingdevice betweeneach pair of keys in said column to prevent the operation of one ofthem, of a lock-out for said keys comprising` a hollow cylinder arrangedbeneath them and having a series of slots at different points around thecircumference and throughout the length thereof and means for securing`said cylinder in position with any one of said slots in line with saidkeys.

7. In a voting machine, a series of amendment devices, each comprising apair of keys, with an interlocking device between the keys forpreventing the movement of more than one of them, with a lockout forsaid keys comprising a rotatable slotted cylinder, a toothed disk on theedge of said cylinder having recesses between said teeth, a dog engagingwith said recesses, means connected to said dog for unlocking the keysof the machine, said disk preventing or permitting the operation of saidmeans according to its position.

S. ln a voting machine, the combination with an amendment voting deviceof a lockout therefor, said lockout being capable of locking againstoperation predetermined ones of said keys, means to prevent the movementof said lockout to release said keys While the machine is released forvoting ope vation.

9. In a voting machine, the combination with an amendment voting deviceof a lockout therefor, said lockout being capable of locking againstoperation predetermined ones of said keys, means to prevent theunlocking of the machine for voting operation Without locking saidlockout device in a locking position.

l0. In a voting machine, the combination of a series of amendment votingdevices, each comprising a pair of keys, a variable shiftable lockoutdevice for preventing the operation of different combinations of saidkeys, said lockout device being capable of a plurality of lockingpositions, means compelling the locking of said lockout device in one ofits locking positions and against movement therefrom before the machinecan be unlocked for voting operation, said means holding it locked insaid position While the machine is open for votinO.

1l. The combination in a voting machine of a series of amendment votingdevices, each comprising a pair of keys, a variable shiftable lockoutdevice for preventing the operation of different combinations of saidkeys, said lockout device being capable of a plurality of lockingpositions, means to prevent the unlocking of the machine for voting whenthe lockout is not in one of its locking positions.

l2. The combination in a voting machine of a series of amendment votingdevices, each comprising a pair of keys, a variable shiftable lockoutdevice for preventing the operation of different combinations of saidkeys, said lockout device being capable of a plurality of lockingpositions, means to prevent the unlocking of the machine When thelockout is in a position intermediate of any of its locking positions.

JAMES H. DEAN. llVitnesses 'HARRY L. CLArr, Kn'rI-rnninn GnRLAoI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtaned'for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

